#always looking sundar sundar

[tum-naam-sochlo-merese-ni-hora]

A lil WIP :)

[harinishivaa]

Chapter 3: Inner Ramblings (Sambandham: War of Hearts)

Links to:

Prologue- https://www.tumblr.com/harinishivaa/741119072854573056/prologue-sambandham-war-of-hearts?source=share

Chapter 1- https://www.tumblr.com/harinishivaa/741675299243261952/chapter-1-starting-fresh-sambandham-war-of?source=share

Chapter 2- https://www.tumblr.com/harinishivaa/743447339726995456/chapter-2-picturesque-sambandham-war-of-hearts?source=share

******

Two weeks later

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

"Thiju!"

Kshithija's eyes met Nila's bright, lucid eyes, shining with an excitement that the former was sure was reflected in her own eyes. Nila had matured even more, her hair in a loose ponytail, long, swishing around behind her back in her excitement. Her beauty had a glow to it, the glow that only romantic feelings acknowledged, accepted and returned could give one.

Had Aditya asked her out?

Kshithija thought all of this, as she embraced her sister tightly. Nila often felt like a part of Kshithija's heart, an integral part of it. Without Nila, her heart would not be complete, just like without Arun, her heart had no blooming. Even through the harsh rejection, and the many years it had been since she had been in anything more than vague and distinct contact with him and his family, he still ran through her heart and veins, like he had never left it.

And he hadn't. She had tried to be as with-the-flow in healing as possible. Though loving him from many thousand miles away was very different from loving him when in close contact. And she doubted the intensity between them would have died down; in fact, if she could hazard a guess, it was going to be much more intense. More than it had ever been.

How she could guess that she had not divined yet, but she knew her gut too well to doubt it anymore.

"What is it, Vaandu?" Nila asked very affectionately, giving Kshithija a knowing look, tinged with some shyness rare in her.

"Did you end up getting a date, Akka?" Kshtihija whispered, not wanting her uncle, who she had embraced earlier to hear just yet. The delightful blush on Nila's face, splashing across her bronzed skin told Kshithija that Aditya had finally asked Nila out. "Oh! He finally asked you out then."

"He did," Nila agreed, the dark blush filling her cheeks, as she looked at Kshithija, the latter smiling brightly.

"What great news to get as I return, Akka. May you always always be happy," Kshithija wished her cousin, hugging her once more, before both grabbed the suitcases and wheeled it to the car, Kshithija more than ready to return home, to the safety of the place she grew up in.

Kshithija was curled up in her favourite nook on the first floor of her house, the couch as comfortable as her usual bean bag back at London. She looked at the book open on her lap, smiling at the worn out pages. She had read this multiple times for comfort, and somehow felt the urge to pick up the book at that moment.

If she thought deeply, she would know why she was in this state; it had everything to do with Arun, with having to meet Arun again. Maybe not immediately, but they ran in very similar social circles, that meeting him socially would happen at some point. Further, the closeness of the two families also guaranteed that she would have to meet him in informal family gatherings.

Since the loss of her father, her Periappa and Sundar uncle, Arun's father, had bonded even more. While both had been close before, the loss of Appa had sealed the friendship in a deeper, more instinctual way than ever before. When they teamed up, it was known that they could win any argument. Given that she was still the heir of her father's company, and Arun was going to be Managing Director eventually, she suspected matchmaking endeavors.

Would she be able to deal with them? She was after all well aware of the ways this set up will happen. And worse, if Iramathi wanted it to happen even now. Kshithija's affection for Iramathi had not receded by any means, and she was aware she was often a pushover, especially with people she loved. But one thing she had gotten with clarity during her time away was perspective.

Iramathi was loving, but she was also not above pushing people together if she thought it would help her family and the mega empire they ran. Aditya could be ruthless sometimes, despite being gentle as well when needed, though it was not the case every time it was needed. Paavai was a little firecracker, and her two brothers often spoiled her, which often gave her a sense of superiority, despite the genuineness that ran in her. Kalyaani was quiet, but could be very cunning when needed. And Arun...

Arun was more morally righteous and truthful than any of his siblings. But he also had a habit of not trusting anyone easily, despite having known them for a long time. While there was nothing wrong with being cautious, there was wrong with actually believing rumours more than the friendship that had been shared for many years.

She sighed to herself. This was the exact path she did not want herself in, and she had, of course found herself venturing into it. Being a psychologist could not prevent her from completely getting over her overthinking habits, it could only help her understand who could advise and guide her through it, leading to healing.

What was she to do though, if such a situation came up?

"Thiju!"

Kshithija was bought out of her thought spiral by her younger brother, who bounded in and plopped down next to her. They were best friends, having only one and a half years between them.

"Yes Kumara?" she asked, playfully rolling her eyes, giggling at his mock offended look. "What do you need me for, mischief maker?"

"Thiju, we both know that you are the biggest mischief maker between the two of us," he nudged her, making her laugh in agreement, responding, "That is a secret!"

The two siblings basked in the cheerful silence, before Kumaran again broke it.

"The social events of the year are starting, Thiju. In about a month," Kumaran announced. Kshithija knew well that he was aware that she had kept herself informed of all this.

"And?"

"And, Periappa hopes you would join us this time," Kumaran said softly. "But you must know..."

"Arun will be there," she sighed softly. She took in the concerned look her brother threw at her, and squeezed his arm, saying, "Well, I will have to meet him at some time, don't I?"

andha vezham nokkida, ingu thaazhai nokkida, oru mouna kaaviyam pirakka

******

Glossary:

andha vezham nokkida, ingu thaazhai nokkida, oru mouna kaaviyam pirakka- That elephant approached, as did the thaazham flower; that meeting gave birth to a silent epic of sorts.

@thelekhikawrites @nspwriteups @whippersnappersbookworm @ragkee @chemicalmindedlotus @dr-scribbler @willkatfanfromasia @balladedutempsjadis @freeunknownwasteland @ramcharanobsessed @gemmusings @vijayasena @thirst4light @hollogramhallucination @chiyaanvikram @moon-880 @sakhiiii @thereader-radhika @ambidextrousarcher @celestesinsight @yehsahihai @thegleamingmoon @dumdaradumdaradum @rang-lo @ragkee @vijayasena Please let me know your thoughts!

[mera-mann-kehne-laga]

Ok dare anon, here you go:

So as instructed by anon ji, i have to describe mere some mutuals in some few sentences.

@hell-lit011019 (Lilu di) -meri pyaaaari beautiful inside-out most favourite didu who's THE BEST and the most caring, loving and cute person I know. Writes bht badhiya poems. Very self-depricating and suicidal most of the time but won't let you do anything bad to yourself and would always always chear you up. Loves spamming me and dropping cute pics in inbox when I'm feeling low. Didu u have no idea how grateful I am to you. And I always will be. *teary eyed* Lobe you

@vellibandi (Sharmaa jiiii) -the srk to my mahima ji, and the flynn to my Rapunzel <3 bheri smart and cute and cool and caring didi who writes bheeeeri well and is the only valid person on this earth lol.

@terimummykejai (yashika di Paagal aurat) -my bandi (yeah we're dating) and my ex-srk. Bht dhokebaaz ldki. Simp. Obsessed with novels and kdrama and kpop and has THE BEST Instagram stories. DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. Inki kaatilana Aankhein toh haaaaayee.

@mainapnifavouritehoon (Humari Geet madam): the sweetest didi who's veeery good at hyping you up about the tiniest stuff haha. My ultimate source of validation. Has EXCELLENT taste in music and is so very similar to mine! Desperately looking for her Aditya, writes beautiful kavitaayein and is VEEEERRYY GORGEOUS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAR ADBHUT.

@ekcupchaide (momo ji)- humari personal lawyer ji and the chai supplier of desiblr. Is herself baawli but calls me baawli aurat. Satkeli. Adorable and phunny.

@merapehlapyaarwaapasaagaya - kind of mom figure hehe. Gives the best advice. Pretty, sweeeeeeet, caring and loving. Idk what I'd have done if she hadn't been there lol. Di me loves you <<<33333

@midnight-rainnnn (meri chotu si cute si satkeli Disha) -bhai aapki to kya hi taareef krein. Mere pass Shabd hi nhi Hain tere bare me kuch bolne ke liye T-T (kuch bolne laayak ho tab na) Bht pyaari behna who's obsessed with killing and choosing violence over peace. Verrryy creative and paints and draws bht pyaaaara. Has excellent taste in music (loves hozier and tay tay bhai ofc). One of the very first ppls I got to know here.

@thewinchestergirl1208 (Apni Madhu Di) -the first desi person I saw here and my very first human follower lol. Caring and loving and pyaari <3

@remen-nyoodles (raman Bhai) -suuuuuper cool bhaiyya ji, nerd, clicks beautiful moon pics, loves space stuff and cursed stuff. Is very done with Shanti Di's dad jokes lol

@the-eternal-seeker (Avi bhaai)- caring cool cute sweet and funny bhai who never leaves a chance to pull your leg and rn is desperately waiting for me to send him a song cover haha. Thank you for being there. Love you <<3

@just-another-godless-god (ahana baccha) -our cute little baby who's bherii smoll. Super sweet and loving.

@mindless-musing (humari Sonu di) -bohooot caring and sweet didi who'll always cheer you up and check up in you if you're doing well or not and will make sure if you're alright. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT WHEN SHE SPAMS ME!

@indulging-in-love-or-rage (Meri jaan Krish aka my nincompoop) -loves me, poetry, dark academia, sunsets, Greek mythology, timmy and the Moon and a lot many things. Is one of the sweetest and most adorable people I know. Very cute hehe. I love his voice. Beautiful, Loving, caring, passionate, VERY TALENTED. Will do anything to make sure he's loved ones are alright.

Bus Yaar anon ji Mai thak gya aur nhi Hoga mere se T-T

[nihyunluvskookie]

Tum se hi

“Jeonghan one shot”

Pairing: Yoon Jeonghan x female reader

Genre: fluff [desi setting]

Warnings: no warnings

Word count: 1.1 K

Author’s Note: I am back with another husband Jeonghan imagine, this was actually quite impulsive, and I wrote this at 1 am. I have no idea if this whole imagine made sense or not, but i hope you enjoy reading this small fluff. And i was writing while reading this song, somewhere I felt like this described how much Jeonghan loved her. AND IT’S NOT PROOFREAD

happy reading :)

I walked out of the bathroom and saw, Noor getting ready, more like wearing the red saree. Somewhere I was lost, inside her when she was fixing her saree, and her hair was done with a pretty bun, with her curtains bangs out and making her look so beautiful, as if I was smitten by her beauty. She was literally glowing.

The way her fingers were trying to fix her saree slowly; it reminded me of the day I first saw her in a saree, and she wore a red saree at that time as well. It wasn’t at our wedding, but it was at peheli rasoi. Considering we saw each other in marriage, and the look on her face, made me realize that there was some missing part in my life that I was searching for and I found it right infront of me. The way she looked at me through the flower curtain before signing and saying ‘qubool hai’ three times, was the first time I heard her voice and my heart told me how I would be hearing it for the rest of my life, how I would be waking up to this voice and ending my day with it.

I was still when she moved her hands to fix her pallu, I was still lost in her. She was trying to pin her pallu, but it wasn’t working. I walked towards her, when she looked so focused in her saree.

I held the pallu and she looked at me through the mirror, she looked taken aback, her eyes told me she didn’t expect me to be here. She was about to say something, “let me” and she nodded.

Once her pallu was pinned and she looked at the mirror, my heart almost skipped beat when our fingers touched, she was looking so breathtaking. How does she pull off to look this pretty every time. “and ho gaya yeh” (and it’s done)

“thank you”

“aapke liye kuch bhi” (anything for you) and the smile when she is flustered on her face was something that meant a lot to me. I saw her move her hands to pick up the chain, but I was fast to pick it up. How could I let her do everything when she looked so fine and pretty but mine?

I held her shoulder, and she looked so flustered when I put the chain around her neck, I could say she couldn’t say a single thing because she was very flustered. This was probably the first time I was helping her to get ready, it’s always her who gets ready even before I can admire her in the morning and sometimes I am so thankful for some events or festivals when I see her getting ready in the morning wearing saree or kurti-patiyala or sharara. I love the way she takes my breath away.

“aaj kya ho gaya, you’re helping me today?” (what happened to you today, you're helping me?) she smiled at me, I won’t lie when I say she looks the prettiest when she smiles.

“chain pehena raha hun aapko” I took a pause and told her what my heart wanted to say “Aur itni sundar jo lag rahi hain, thore hi aapko sab karne de sakta hun. Mujhe bhi thori aapki khubsurati ko niharne ka mauka den” she was flustered again. I picked her earrings which were on the dressing table, I helped her with them. Earrings just added lives to my life. If only words could help me describe how much she looked like mine.

I saw the kamarband and picked it up, she was surprised, “Yeh aap kya- I cut her off pulling her waist and then putting the kamarband around her waist. I was too focused on her.

Once I was done, it reminded me how she loved wearing payal and I would definitely want her to wear payal today, afterall she looked so beautiful and I could take my eyes off her “Stay here and give me a second” she nodded. I went to open the wardrobe where I kept the new payal I bought for her. I was waiting for the right time and I won’t get a better time than this.

I went to her and showed her the payal, she almost gasped, “Aapke liye laya tha” (bought this for you)

“Thank you” and her smile was worthless, even millions of diamonds wouldn’t be able to buy her smile, probably because her smile was worth my life.

I bent down and gestured her to keep her foot on my thigh, so that I could put the payal on her. Jab bhi woh payal pehen k chalti thi, mujhe lagta tha meri zindagi chal rahi hai aur mai apni zindagi k samne jhukne k liye bhi taiyaar hun

Once she gave me her feet and I put the payal around her, I got up and looked at her. Admiration was the first thing I could do and it felt surreal that she was mine. Then came love, and she was the perfect definition of love. It felt like my life got meaning ever since she came into my life, her presence was the reason why I was standing here and falling in love with her every second.

I was looking at her eyes and it felt like I was lost in her eyes, her eyes were telling me something with love, we don’t need words to confess or tell that we are falling in love, actions speak louder than words. “aapko payal pasand toh ai na?” she nodded and smiled, “thank you so much” I took a step closer to her and tugged her hair strands and couldn’t resist myself from saying “kitni sundar lag rahi hain aap” She looked at me and gave me a smile.

Oh my gosh. One look at her right now and I realized how much I love her, can she even tell how much I already love her?

God forbid me from falling this hard for her.

I gave her my smile subconsciously while I had her thoughts about how I fell in love with her the moment I saw her behind the flower curtains during our nikah. And how everything she does makes me fall in love with her over again

And in a blink I felt her lips on mine briefly. She ran away even before I could react, my fingers went to touch my lips where she kissed me; I was just standing there processing that she just kissed me like that and ran away even before I could kiss her back.

I ran out of the room, in the hope I would catch her before she could go downstairs, I noticed she was near the staircase and pulled her by her arm, “Where are you running away?” I leaned towards her and kissed her before she could say a single word. I pulled her closer by her waist, she couldn’t just steal my first kiss like that.

Once I let her go, I looked at her, she was way too flustered to speak a single word, so I decided to speak up “I know itni sundar hoke jaa rahi hain, par meri hi hoke wapas aana, meri jaan” and I kissed her once again.

Nothing could describe how much I love her.

[browngurl99]

Day 7 - Faith/Rituals of love

"Come on! Say it, Nikita. It's a ritual."

"But I don't know how to make one on the spot. You just happen to be good at that, Aai."

Nikita and Trisha held a post-wedding get-together exclusive to certain relatives and close friends. They had come a long way since their first meeting at a jogging park 5 years ago.

Although Trisha was a couple years older than her, they got along very well. Trisha loved to make others laugh and sometimes Nikita laughed at her unfunny jokes just to see her proud smile. She was also a great friend. She always looked out for others, including Nikita. She always checked up on Nikita when she did not come to the park. One time, when Nikita came down with a fever, she came to her place by herself and then took drove her to a doctor.

It took them a six months-long friendship for Trisha to confess that she is bisexual is to Nikita. Nikita could not help but immediately come out to her at the very moment. Ever since then, they started slipping their presence into each other's lives more often. Then the obvious happened. They slowly realised what they felt for each other from a long time, was not one-sided at all. The confession was kind of a mess as it happened due to a playful flirting session between them that ended up with them kissing. But they worked it out in the end. Nikita could not even believe how quickly the time passed since their confession. And now, they were married.

"Ukhana doesn't have to be perfect. Just try it. It's the ritual that matters." Aai said.

It took some time for Aai and Baba to accept her fully. She came out a couple years ago. That time, they were shocked and worried. But later on, their daughter's happiness became the top priority for them. They still seemed hesitant some of the times as they were still not very used to the whole concept. But they were still learning. They were trying their best and that was enough for Nikita.

Surprisingly, Ashish was present at the gathering too. When Nikita came out to him, his reaction was positive. He stated that he forgave her 'betrayal' because he completely understood her situation. They got divorced for the better. But ironically their friendship got stronger after the divorce. He had been one of the few people who wholeheartedly supported Nikita's identity.

"Okay. I will try to say it." Nikita said nervously but also with a hint of excitement. Trisha winked at her ; To motivate her or to wish her luck? No one knows.

Nikita took a deep breath. It had been a long time since she said an ukhana. The last time was during the Satyanarayn Puja after her marriage with Ashish.

This time Nikita had to say ukhana for her the person she truly loved, Trisha. It was a little confusing. "How could I describe my wife in just some little poem?". She thought. Trisha deserved a thousand poems written about her. And Nikita would write those thousand poems but she would not want the world to know a single word of it, as if it was only reserved for Trisha.

Nikita pushed her too-many thoughts away and started reciting the poem

"Tujhya premachi challi ashi jaado

Prem geet aiktana tu lagli disu

Kontyahi phula peksha jaast sundar

Aahe Trishacha hasu"

[Translation: Your love had such magic on me

I started seeing you everytime I listen to a love song

No flower in the world can compete

The beauty of your (Trisha's) laughter]

"Waah! Waah! Kya baat hai!" Yelled Nikita's friends enthusiastically, as if they were attending a poetry recital.

Nikita gasped "You guys are trolling me. That was cringe. "

Then, Nikita heard a laughter to her side. Her wife was laughing. Her usual stern voice sounded very light. Her cheeks were brushed with a shade of pink.

"Oh my god!" Trisha said between laughs "That's the cutest thing I have ever heard. I loved it, Nikita."

Nikita's ukhana was completely true. In fact, not only flowers, but the beauty of the entire nature could be seen Trisha's laugh. She was truly lucky to have this woman as her wife.

...

@desi-lgbt-fest

[santmat]

Seven Teachings of Sant Mat and Requirements For Initiation - Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts - SantMat Satsang Podcasts - A Satsang Without Walls

Today we explore: The Goal of Sant Mat Spirituality and Meditation: Our Path Back to the Source; The Six Stages of Inner Sound Meditation; The Traveler of the Inner Subtle Path; The Five Precepts or Moral Requirements for Initiation Cultivating Stillness and a Spiritual Way of Life; Also a Word About Vegetarianism, Veganism, and Sant Mat.

"Blessed are the souls who in today's materialistic world have an inclination towards spirituality." (Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj)

"Sant Mat is not the Path of information; this is the Path of Transformation." (Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj)

"We are children of both worlds. We human beings are a Tree of Life with roots in the earth and branches rising into a mystic sky. Meditation is the portal to the realm within and allows us to know ourselves, our original nature." (Agochar)

Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast - Seven Teachings of Sant Mat and Requirements For Initiation - Listen - Download:

@ Podcast Website:

https://traffic.libsyn.com/spiritualawakeningradio/Seven_Teachings_of_Sant_Mat_and_Requirements_For_Initiation.mp3

@ Libsyn Directory:

https://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.libsyn.com/seven-teachings-of-sant-mat-and-requirements-for-initiation

@ Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seven-teachings-of-sant-mat-and-requirements/id1477577384?i=1000623022555

@ Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/5kqOaSDrj630h5ou65JSjE

@ Google Podcasts:

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzIwNzIzNi9yc3M/episode/NWQxMTQ0YWQtNzRlMi00YjI2LWI2YmEtNWE3Zjg1OGEwY2U3?sa=X&ved=0CCIQz4EHahcKEwjghbzj9LqAAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQCg

& @ Wherever You Subscribe and Follow Podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Audible, PodBean, Overcast, Jio Saavan, iHeart Radio, Podcast Addict, Gaana, CastBox, etc...): 

https://linktr.ee/SpiritualAwakeningRadio

"Look at God within yourself, how 'God is Light.' For his Nature is a glorious, many-splendored Light. He manifests the Light of his Nature to those who love Him in all the worlds." (John of Dalyatha, Syriac Mystic)

"In meditation, the true condition of the soul is exposed, and God can reveal our failings in order to heal and bless us... If we spend more time in meditation, we can recognize the relationship between the visible and invisible world ever more distinctly and clearly." (Wisdom of the Sadhu, The Teachings of Sundar Singh)

"Saints come into this world and They enlighten us. They remind us of our True Home of God Almighty -- our True Father. They encourage us to go back. And They motivate us to go back. So, we are indeed fortunate to get this human body and get this life. And it is with the Grace of God Almighty that we have the company of the Masters. Now, we should make the most of that and follow the Teachings of the Masters and make the efforts to go back to our True Home... It is, therefore, incumbent on a disciple, once he has been initiated, to prioritize his meditation. He should always keep that to the forefront and do his meditation first, and then all of the other activities should follow that... Morning time is ideal for meditation. But anytime is good if we are sitting for meditation." (Baba Ram Singh)

In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhaswami,

James Bean

Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts

Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts

Sant Mat Radhasoami

A Satsang Without Walls

https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com

#Spirituality #Meditation #God #Heaven #SantMat #Sant_Mat #Radhasoami #Radhasoami #Radha_Soami #Satsang #Initiation #Deeksha #Diksha #PathOfTheMasters #Vegetarian #Vegan #Satgurus #Ethics #Stillness #SantMatSatsangPodcasts #SpiritualAwakeningRadio #SuratShabdYoga #GodsLove #GodIsLove #Contemplation #StillnessWithin #LookWithin #GoWithin #GoWithinOrGoWithout #SpiritualAwakening

[khwabb]

Sweeter than Gulab: The Best Marathi Phrases for a Memorable Proposal

Ah, love! It’s a universal language that transcends cultures, transcends time, and most assuredly, transcends words. But when you decide it’s time to express your love and ask that all-important question —"Will you be mine?" — there's something extra special about doing it in your own native language. For Marathi-speaking lovebirds, dedicating your heart using expressive propose day quotes in marathi makes the moment excitingly authentic and even more captivating. And so, here we are, helping you make the day sweeter than a gulab, with a handful of the best Marathi phrases for a memorable proposal.

Rooted in Romance

We often think of romance languages as French, Spanish, or Italian. However, turn eastward towards the culturally rich landscape of Maharashtra and you'll find a language that beautifully intertwines love with poetic drama—Marathi. Expressing your love in Marathi, the language that has serenaded and enchanted your ears since childhood can add an unmistakable charm to the proposal.

Beautifully Bold Expressions

Begin with a straightforward declaration of love like, "माझं तुमच्यावर प्रेम आहे"(Mazha tumchyavar prem aahe), meaning "I am in love with you". This heartfelt admission sets the stage for heartfelt emotions that will surely strike a chord.

Nuances of Emotion

Marathi, as a language, beautifully articulates nuanced emotions. If you're looking to express the depth of your love, consider using, "माझं तुमच्यासाठी प्रेम अपार आहे" (Mazha tumchyasathi prem apaar aahe), which translates to "My love for you is immense." It adds a poetic touch that resonates with the sensitivity and eloquence of Marathi culture.

Adding a Hint of Poetry

If you wish to infuse your proposal with the grace of poetry, borrow from famous Marathi verses or create your own! One such lyric that lovers have turned to time and again is, "तू माझ्या आयुष्यातलं सगळंच सुंदर" (Tu majhya ayushyatla saglyanch sundar), which means "You are the most beautiful thing in my life."

A Slice of Tradition

Inscriptions of love aren’t always grand. Sometimes, simplicity creates the most profound impact! The phrase, "लग्न करायला मला तुमची परवानगी हवी आहे" (Lagna karayala mala tumchi parvangi havi aahe), is a traditional way of asking for a hand in marriage, essentially meaning "I would like your permission to marry you."

Love Echoes in Every Word

These Marathi phrases indeed hold a magic that can stir emotions of love in a way that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. Love, after all, is not merely about grand gestures. It echoes in the unspoken words, the understanding silences, and the language that triggers memories of home, culture, and shared laughter.

From poetic stanzas to delightfully straightforward phrases, Marathi is resplendent with ways to make a marriage proposal unforgettable. So, this Propose Day, express yourself in the language that your heart understands best. Impress your beloved with a sincere and touching Marathi proposal, and indeed, make the moment sweeter than a gulab. As the saying goes, love isn't just about finding the perfect person. It's also about finding the perfect words. Happy Proposing!

[mitchipedia]

Ezra Klein: This changes everything

In 2018, Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google — and not one of the tech executives known for overstatement — said, “A.I. is probably the most important thing humanity has ever worked on. I think of it as something more profound than electricity or fire.”

Try to live, for a few minutes, in the possibility that he’s right. There is no more profound human bias than the expectation that tomorrow will be like today. It is a powerful heuristic tool because it is almost always correct. Tomorrow probably will be like today. Next year probably will be like this year. But cast your gaze 10 or 20 years out. Typically, that has been possible in human history. I don’t think it is now.

Artificial intelligence is a loose term, and I mean it loosely. I am describing not the soul of intelligence, but the texture of a world populated by ChatGPT-like programs that feel to us as though they were intelligent, and that shape or govern much of our lives. Such systems are, to a large extent, already here. But what’s coming will make them look like toys. What is hardest to appreciate in A.I. is the improvement curve.

“The broader intellectual world seems to wildly overestimate how long it will take A.I. systems to go from ‘large impact on the world’ to ‘unrecognizably transformed world,’” Paul Christiano, a key member of OpenAI who left to found the Alignment Research Center, wrote last year. “This is more likely to be years than decades, and there’s a real chance that it’s months.”

Perhaps the developers will hit a wall they do not expect. But what if they don’t?

I find myself thinking back to the early days of Covid. There were weeks when it was clear that lockdowns were coming, that the world was tilting into crisis, and yet normalcy reigned, and you sounded like a loon telling your family to stock up on toilet paper. There was the difficulty of living in exponential time, the impossible task of speeding policy and social change to match the rate of viral replication.

Some people looking at AI say AI is nothing, just a parlor trick. Others say it's revolutionary, but it will be a revolution akin to the invention of the smartphone. Still others say we're looking at the next step of evolution, the emergence of another intelligent species, perhaps the emergence of gods.

I agree with the second group, the folks who think AI is like the invention of the smartphone. But what if the third group is right—and the transition to this new intelligent species happens in months or years, rather than decades or longer?

Sounds crazy, right? But imagine it's Feb. 2020 and somebody tells you that starting in a few weeks, you're going to have to stay away from other people for more than a year. You would have thought that person was crazy, wouldn't you?

[24hrsallnews]

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is all set to comeback with her upcoming project Citadel Honey Bunny and film Bangaram.

We will read about, "Samantha Ruth Prabhu is all set to comeback with her upcoming project Citadel Honey Bunny and film Bangaram." Yesterday, the first look of Bangaram was revealed to mark Samantha Ruth Prabhu's 37th birthday. Samantha Ruth Prabhu is planning to make a comeback with a web series and a movie.  

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is all set to comeback with her upcoming project Citadel Honey Bunny and film Bangaram.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu was seen at the teaser launch of The Marvel in November. On Samantha's birthday, Tralala Moving Pictures has posted the first look of Bangaram. Samantha Ruth Prabhu has a very wide fan base. Tralala Moving Pictures shared it and wrote the caption, "@samantharuthprabhuoffl a very happy birthday #Bangaram Starting soon" The excitement and craziness among fans regarding the Bangaram film is increasing. Bangaram marks Samantha Ruth Prabhu's debut as a producer.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Tra-la-la Moving Pictures (@tralalamovingpictures) In the film's first look poster teaser, Samantha is covered in blood, she is always seen wearing a saree and carrying a gun. Samantha's fierce look is visible, the cooker is boiling and a teddy bear is visible. Samantha Ruth Prabhu portrayed a villainous character in her most recent web series, The Family Man Season 2, which garnered immense praise from her fans. Samantha's upcoming web series is Citadel: Honey Bunny and upcoming film is Bangaram.   More About Citadel: Honey Bunny Citadel: Honey Bunny will be a spy action thriller film. The film stars Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Sikandar Kher, Emma Canning, Kay Kay Menon and many others. The series is created by Raj and DK, produced by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstot, Scott Nemes, David Weil, Raj & DK. This series is going to be released on Amazon Prime Video.   More About Bangaram Bangaram stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the lead role, while the cast of the film has not been revealed. The film is also produced by Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Numerous aspects of the movie have been shrouded in secrecy, anticipate a fantastic cinematic journey in the film.   Read More - The new look of Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa starrer Phule has been released. - The film Luv You Shankar, starring Shreyas Tanisha Mukherjee, has officially released. - The ultimate guide to Tillu Square: A must-watch film for romantic crime comedy fanatics - Razakar Review: Razakars: The Silent Massacre of Hyderabad released in Hindi on 26 April - Aranmanai 4 Trailer: Sundar C's Aranmanai 4 releases in cinemas globally in April - Do Aur Do Pyaar Movie Review: Do Aur Do Pyaar is a delightful romantic comedy that explores the complexities of love and marriage. - 777 Charlie movie is expanding its global presence! - Dukaan movie review: The concept is intriguing but fails to achieve its maximum potential. - Pawan Kalyan met Chiranjeevi during the filming of Vishwambhara - A viral photo on social media features Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi together Read the full article

[legacyoftheogres]

5. Roots of the World

[Thalanthe reflects on her history]            

    I remember the tightness of my mother’s hand as she held onto me, there was strength and fear in that grip. The orderly evacuations that held the same unease. The darkness in the caves of Illumaten, and the terror each time that we would not emerge to find the host beaten back. That such a thing could become routine, the toll it took on my people.

                The smell of wood, earth, and water has followed me through my life. Each forest, though far apart, separated by sea and plane, connects me back to home and makes me feel like I belong. It is as if their roots stretch out and carry me back to Sundar Caste.

It was in my home that I first saw them. The witch who became a god, and the fighter whose blade brought nightmares to their knees. I remember how the Caste whispered of them. I remember how weary they looked. The songs and stories speak of their deeds, but never of the burden they bore. Myth makes saints and gods out of men but forgets the soul and body.

They returned to Materia, and some time later, my family followed them. I used to wonder if my parents would have left had they known they would die far from their home. Later, I chose to believe they fell outside of Quatansk’s walls without regret. They were noble warriors that fought to defend the realm and its people; it mattered not if their blood was spilled on foreign soil. I hoped they lived long enough to see what the time they bought with their lives did for Quatansk.

The siege was truly a thing of despair. The host was impossibly large, and our defenses could not possibly hold against it. I watched from the entrance of the chapel, though many chided me to step back into safety. The air was heavy with the scent of sulfur and blood, and the sound of metal and screams. I resented my lifespan then; hated my slow growing limbs and weakness. I watched as able-bodied individuals were called into battle, and bitterly wished to join them. At thrice their age, I could do nothing but watch. I envied the brightness with which they burned. I learned, years later, to appreciate my longevity. I will continue to honor the sacrifice that those who fought first made for me, and ensure their work continues in the centuries ahead.

All had seemed lost. We thought the heroes and gods had abandoned us, but when they appeared in the chapel it was as if an electric current rippled through the air. These were not the same heroes who had visited Sundar Caste, they were something else entirely. Each one seemed more weapon than flesh.

Inv moved with a quickness that was frightening, vanishing into the fray moments after his arrival. His location was only discernable when one of the fiendish generals crashed from the sky like a comet.

Though I had seen him before, the timeless wizard, it will always be the image of him that day that will remain in my mind. Domagk, floating above the fortress, summoned magic beyond comprehension and called down the might of the heavens.

I watched the cracked altar knit itself back together in Ævilok’s presence, welcoming a new god and old friend. I remember how her eyes swept over the battle and the mighty beat of Xighe’s wings. I remembered the anguish on her face as she returned with her fallen comrade.

Three was all it took to turn the tide. Three individuals who gave everything for the protection of this world. Forever worn and battered, they never failed to rise to the call of action. Last of the saints, it is in their image that I make myself. It is their work I wish to continue. The Daemonwrack has concluded but I will use my long life to ensure the world that was dear to them, the realm my parents perished to protect, is warded against such a tragedy repeating.

[gauravverma5778]

PR Sundar Finfluencer Guide On Full Time Trading

PR Sundar Finfluencer starts by saying that there's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to deciding to become a full-time trader. He says it's important to consider your own situation and whether you're really ready for it. He explains that there are two main groups of people thinking about this change: those who see trading as a way to make more money and those who want to leave their jobs because they're unhappy.

PR Sundar shares from his own experience, saying that it's true that things might not always be better if you switch. He advises thinking carefully and looking at both the good and bad sides before making any big decisions.

Going deeper into the topic, PR Sundar Finfluencer talks about what you need before you can become a full-time trader. He says you should have enough money saved up, a good understanding of trading, backup funds in case things go wrong, and ideally no debts or other sources of income to rely on.

He stresses the importance of having a safety net because trading can be unpredictable. Using numbers, he explains how much money you might need before you can make the switch. Sundar also compares the returns you might get from trading yourself versus hiring a professional trader, giving you something to think about. His main message is that you need to be really sure and confident before you make the switch. He suggests considering other options too, like trading part-time or letting someone else handle your trades, so you can weigh up the pros and cons against the security of a regular job.

Read More

[bopinion]

2024 / 15

Aperçu of the Week

"Artificial intelligence will have a more profound impact on humanity than fire, electricity and the internet."

(Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet aka Google)

Bad News of the Week

Artificial intelligence has the potential to be a Sith lord. So on the dark side of the force. Artificial intelligence existed long before the term was coined. After all, it's nothing more than YouTube suggesting another clip similar to the one you've just watched. Since then, algorithms have accompanied us everywhere in life where probability calculation plays a role. Social media has always done nothing different when it presents certain suggestions based on personal likes and followed channels and not alternatives - because the algorithm calculates that we would like result A better than result B (this is called a bubble). This is why we all initially had the feeling that the internet was mainly made up of conspiracy theories.

As with any fundamental innovation, there is potential for good and bad. The US doesn't give a shit about the good dominating. They don't seem to care at all that someone could and should care about a leadership function that this potential benefits the population as a whole. Instead, the usual priority dominates - the buck rules. A look at the country's political personnel reveals why: there are more millionaires than non-millionaires in both chambers of Congress. What might be the reason for this...

Artificial intelligence will not be stopped. It is up to the people - in the USA primarily those who decide and provide - whether this powerful tool will be dangerous or useful. It's like a kitchen knife: you can cook dinner for your family or stab someone with it. In a society that is primarily geared towards maximizing profits, it is to be feared that AI will primarily be used to replace working people. Because AI never gets sick, never goes on vacation or to the bathroom and can work 24/7. When it comes to earning money, its triumphal march is unstoppable. But it will also have many human victims.

Good News of the Week

Artificial intelligence has the potential to be a Jedi knight. So on the bright side of the force. Artificial intelligence existed long before the term was coined. After all, it's no different when a washing machine recognizes that it's only half full and therefore uses less water. Since then, algorithms have accompanied us everywhere in life where probability calculation plays a role. Internet search engines have always done nothing different when they prioritize certain results over others based on personal surfing behavior - because the algorithm calculates that we would like result A better than result B. This is why we all had the feeling at the beginning that the internet consisted mainly of cat videos.

As with any fundamental innovation, there is potential for good and bad. Europe is trying to ensure that the good dominates. The European Union is also trying to establish regulatory guard rails in this market. Of course, technological development is faster than its administrative management by the public sector. But it is coming. Sooner or later. And it is already costing US companies billions - with the exception of TikTok, all the major players come from the Pacific coast of the USA. Because we insist on compliance with the rules of the game. And we can enforce them, because our market is too big and attractive to be ignored. Without the EU, Meta, for example, would not have a single employee on the lookout for fake news.

Artificial intelligence will not be stopped. It is up to the people - in Europe primarily those who use it and allow themselves to be used - whether this powerful tool will be dangerous or useful. It's like a hammer: you can use it to hammer a nail into the wall for a picture or to beat someone to death. In a society that sees itself as a social community, it is at least the hope that routine activities will be automated with AI so that human labor can be used for more complex services. So when it comes to unleashing potential, its triumphal march is unstoppable. So it really will bring added value for people.

Personal happy moment of the week

This week, some good political news is also my personal happy moment: for the first time, climate activists, in this case Swiss senior citizens, have been successful with a lawsuit for stricter measures against climate change before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). According to the judges, Switzerland had violated the applicants' human rights. The authorities had not acted in time and had not adequately addressed climate change and its consequences.

A ruling that will have a signal effect. After all, legal liability for "failure to provide assistance" - because that's what it is when politicians do too little to combat climate change - is likely to have a greater impact than demonstrations by committed citizens who are probably already acting sustainably anyway. Bravo.

I couldn't care less...

...that O. J. Simpson died. May he rest wherever he belongs.

It's fine with me...

...that US President Joe Biden is considering a "waiver of further prosecution" of whistleblower Julian Assange. I don't like the Wikileaks founder - it's not just in relation to the Swedish sex abuse allegations that there is usually at least a little fire where there is smoke. But he has shown us the necessity of taking responsibility even where authorities like to hide behind non-disclosure agreements and secrecy rules. There is now a "whistleblower protection law" throughout the European Union. Without Assange, this would not exist.

As I write this...

...I am trying to come to terms with the fact that FC Bayern Munich will not be German soccer champions for the first time in 11 years (!). "Vicekusen" is history, as Bayer Leverkusen's victory on Sunday puts them unassailably ahead and they can celebrate their championship five matchdays before the end of the season. And Munich even have to worry about finishing at second place, as Stuttgart are level on points in the table. There are still five days left in the season - and, after a long time, a lively competition again. That's actually a good thing. But it still hurts a little.

Post Scriptum

Germany has a climate protection law. It has defined targets for reducing climate-damaging emissions, for example, in order to (yes, we still have to hope for it) keep global warming under control. The targets apply according to the respective thematic responsibility of the ministries, i.e. the corresponding savings in the transport sector are the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport. The current legal text stipulates that the respective ministry must take effective immediate measures if it is foreseeable that targets will not be met. This is the case with transport, not least because the ministers (not only in this legislative period) lack ambition, to put it mildly.

The current Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing of the Liberals, has been nagging about the law for some time now and would like to be able to continue to remain unambitious by allowing ministries to offset against each other. In other words, he wants to have his own deficits compensated by others. He just can't get a majority for that. And is now starting to threaten, there's no other way to put it. If the law doesn't change, he would have to order "comprehensive and indefinite driving bans". For all private vehicles, on all Saturdays and Sundays. I assume that electric cars (we're already driving our third) would be exempt, but that's only a small percentage anyway. The targets could not be achieved with milder measures such as a speed limit, which he has of course never tried.

The outcry from Germany as a nation of motorists was and is huge. Which was certainly exactly what he had intended. However, almost all of the political competition and political commentators are not crying out against the evil law, but against his plan. There is talk of a "political indictment". And that it is irresponsible to "stir up unfounded fears". The Liberals are currently polling below 5% nationwide, meaning they would no longer make it into parliament. If they carry on like this, that won't change. What would be their own fault.

[prsundarfinfluencer]

PR Sundar Finfluencer on Investing Amid Market Peaks

In the ever-changing world of the Indian stock market, navigating through ups and downs requires understanding, risk assessment, and smart decision-making. Lately, the market has been going up, which seems promising for investors. But is it the right time to jump in? PR Sundar Finfluencer, a well-known figure in finance, tackles this question in his latest YouTube video titled "Market Going Bigger & Bigger! RIGHT time to Invest in STOCKS?!"

Sundar starts by looking back at his past recommendations, where he's always emphasized safety over quick gains. He mentions stocks like Infosys and HDFC Bank, which have given good returns over time. With the market at record highs and a new year starting, he acknowledges that many investors are unsure about when to enter the market.

He talks about different opinions in the investment community, where some are cautious due to high market prices. Sundar mentions stocks like PFC and REC, which offer good dividend yields, often better than bank fixed deposits. Despite their ups and downs, he believes in the long-term potential of these stocks. Sundar's strategy focuses on patience and sensible investing, aiming to find value even in underperforming stocks.

Read More

[bllsbailey]

Google Addresses Allegations Of Racial Bias And Historical Errors Regarding AI Tech

As a result of Google’s acknowledged racial and historical bias programmed within its artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In a memo to staff on Tuesday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated that the company is now addressing issues with its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) tool. Pichai admitted that certain text and picture responses produced by the tool were completely “biased” and “wholly unacceptable.”

Last week, the corporation had paused the use of its Gemini tool, which generates photos based on inputted descriptions. However, the AI-created images have been deemed inaccurate by its users.

The tech giant’s CEO informed staff last Tuesday that the company is now working “around the clock” to address the tool’s racial bias, as well as other biases, and stated that the images produced by the model were “completely unacceptable.”

The full text of the memo from Pichai reads:

“I want to address the recent issues with problematic text and image responses in the Gemini app (formerly Bard). I know that some of its responses have offended our users and shown bias — to be clear, that’s completely unacceptable and we got it wrong. Our teams have been working around the clock to address these issues. We’re already seeing a substantial improvement on a wide range of prompts. No AI is perfect, especially at this emerging stage of the industry’s development, but we know the bar is high for us and we will keep at it for however long it takes. And we’ll review what happened and make sure we fix it at scale. Our mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful is sacrosanct. We’ve always sought to give users helpful, accurate, and unbiased information in our products. That’s why people trust them. This has to be our approach for all our products, including our emerging AI products. We’ll be driving a clear set of actions, including structural changes, updated product guidelines, improved launch processes, robust evals and red-teaming, and technical recommendations. We are looking across all of this and will make the necessary changes. Even as we learn from what went wrong here, we should also build on the product and technical announcements we’ve made in AI over the last several weeks. That includes some foundational advances in our underlying models e.g. our 1 million long-context window breakthrough and our open models, both of which have been well received. We know what it takes to create great products that are used and beloved by billions of people and businesses, and with our infrastructure and research expertise we have an incredible springboard for the AI wave. Let’s focus on what matters most: building helpful products that are deserving of our users’ trust.”

As a result, legislatures have begun reacting to Google’s acknowledged racial and historical bias, with one GOP senator demanding for the “breakup” of the well-known tech company.

“This is one of the most dangerous companies in the world. It actively solicits and forces left-wing bias down the throats of the American nation,” Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), told FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo in a Sunday Morning Futures exclusive interview.

After discontinuing Gemini’s image-generation features, Google is now reportedly attempting to turn things around. Social media users claimed that Gemini had been producing historical photographs that were inaccurate and often substituted images of White people with Black, Latino[a], Native American, and Asian people, replacing images of Caucasians in order to be more racially diverse.

Additionally, a number of media outlets have similarly tested Gemini, asking the tool to display a photo of a White individual. However, Gemini responded, stating that this request could not be fulfilled since it “reinforces harmful stereotypes and generalizations about people based on their race.”

The Ohio senator elaborated on how the reported bias can have effects on outside information segments, including politics.

“Think about the effect this has on the presidential election when unbiased, non-committed voters are searching things about Donald Trump, and also about Joe Biden, right before they cast their ballots,” Vance stated. “We cannot allow a company that is in bed with some of the worst people in the world to control the flow of information and to bias it in a left-wing direction. We [have] got to break this company up and bring back some common sense standards.”

Regarding the potential of legal action being taken against Google, Vance asserted that there are “growing calls” from all political persuasions for the tech giant to be broken up, citing its emergence as “too big, too powerful.”

“My friends on the left, Maria, say they feel like our democracy is under threat. The biggest way our democracy is under threat is you have these massive, international companies that are sort of controlling what we think, what we read, what information we consume,” Vance explained.

“That’s a big problem. But I actually do think that there’s going to be growing momentum to rein Google in,” he continued. “We saw this with the release of Gemini. This is a radically left-wing company that is trying to control how we consume information. If we let that happen, we are going to get exactly what we deserve.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, demanded in a letter sent on Saturday that the Google parent company “Alphabet” provide an explanation for any indication that Gemini’s AI errors may have been influenced by the Biden administration.

Google is now intending to relaunch the Gemini AI tool within the next few weeks, according to a Google spokesperson.

Google’s stock tanked yesterday in response to the Gemini AI image catastrophe, but peel back the onion & there’s a deeper issue. There’s three layers of “programming” at work. pic.twitter.com/pagzqz5Xy5— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) February 27, 2024

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

Google's Woke AI Gemini Attempts to Rewrite History And Gets Blasted

[college-girl199328]

With all the layoffs in the news we're seeing, there's always the question: Why don't the highly paid executives take a pay cut? Couldn't they trim their massive pay packages and save some jobs? In my more than 40 years in business, including being the vice president of human resources for Microsoft, I've seen more than a few layoffs. This observation is a fair one. The executives in charge never seem to pay a price for the pain they cause, and here are several reasons.

One reason, the reason executives most commonly use to justify it to themselves, is simple math. Cutting their salary wouldn't make a significant impact. Take Google or Microsoft, two companies with very similar math. These companies both have about 200,000 employees. Both have laid off somewhere around 10,000 employees in the past year or so. And both CEOs are paid similar amounts, with salaries of about $2 million a year.

For these companies, cutting 10,000 employees saves them about a billion dollars a year in costs. Cutting the CEO's salary entirely would save just 0.2% of that. The math is so large that executives like to point out that cutting their salary wouldn't even put a dent in the problem.

But wait, you protest, Google's Sundar Pichai made more than $200 million last year! And Microsoft's Satya Nadella made almost $50 million in 2022! That's what makes the news, but it's really not what's happening. They weren't paid these amounts; they were given stock grants. Grants that vest (become exercisable) over a while.

Sundar's, for example, vests over three years. If Google's stock price were to plummet, so would his compensation. But it soared, up by about 50% in the past year. Sundar did exceptionally well. These kinds of grants are common in executive compensation because the companies like them. The stock doesn't cost the company this money out of pocket. Accounting magic makes these kinds of grants very cheap for the firm.

More importantly, boards see handcuffing the executive to the stock-price roller coaster as a good thing. If the CEO doesn't fix the cost problem, their compensation takes a huge hit. If they take action that increases the company's value and its stock price, everyone wins. Or at least all the stockholders win, which includes the executive, the board, many employees, and investors. Much like the salary, because these grants don't affect the current bottom line, cutting them won't save the money they need to trim. The company, the board, and the CEO will say when asked that it wouldn't make a dent in the problem.

Another factor is the fierce competition for talent for these executive positions. Much like in the sports world, very few people can play at this level. Precious few executives have the experience to lead nearly trillion-dollar companies with hundreds of thousands of employees and operations on a global scale.

Like star athletes, those who can perform at this level look to their peers. They compare and contrast, often with envy. There's a reason base compensation in the Fortune 500 is very similar. The talent competition is tight, and those who play at that level know their worth. The difference, then, is the stock package and the stock price — just what the boards of these companies want. They want to be able to hire a star, load them up with stock, and say, "Make the stock soar, and you'll be handsomely rewarded."

The last thing boards of companies facing cost pressure want to do is cause their leaders to go looking. Cutting the compensation — making it not competitive with their peers — would do just that. It's something they don't want to risk.

The problem with this purely economic discussion, however, is that it misses the entire point. These CEOs are supposed to be leaders. They're supposed to be setting a new course, and they're supposed to be models of behavior for the organization. If the company is going through pressure, and if things are so bad that people are losing their jobs, shouldn't the CEOs share the pain?

Of course, they should. Some have, under public pressure, made public commitments to do better. Sundar Pichai committed a year ago to lower his pay, but as I already mentioned, his total compensation this past year was over $200 million. Tim Cook at Apple publicly requested his stock grant be cut in half — to $40 million. His base pay of $3 million and bonus of $6 million were unchanged.

But most don't. They'll make all the excuses above, justifying it to themselves, their boards, and their stockholders. Then they'll turn to the company and make impassioned speeches about how hard this all is, how sad it is to see people go, and how they wish there were other options.

Most of all, they'll talk about how we're all in this together, working for a company tomorrow, then smile while they cash the checks and sell their stock.

[bolllywoodhungama]

EXCLUSIVE: Brijendra Kala says, “Main us waqt aaya jab hero sundar hota tha, heroine sundar hoti thi, villain sundar hota tha, comedian sundar hota tha”

Brijendra Kala humorously shared the reason for becoming a writer early on in his filmi career.

Brijendra Kala has been acting in Hindi films since over two decades. He has played a wide range of characters in a number of small and big budget films in these years. Some of his most noteworthy roles have come in films like Jab We Met, Paan Singh Tomar, Jolly LLB, Ankhon Dekhi, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Jolly LLB 2, Shubh Mangal Savdhan, Sherni, 83, etc. Recently, the fourth season of his web show The Aam Aadmi Family started streaming on ZEE 5.

Bringing a subtle undercurrent of humour is one of his main skills as an actor. Speaking about this, Brijendra Kala told Bollywood Hungama exclusively, “I did theatre for around 19-20 years mainly in Mathura, except that I occasionally visited Delhi or Lucknow for shows. So, my flavour (of my humour) is from my city. The way you behave with people and the way they behave with you, you start taking pointers from there. Maybe that became my habit, and it started showing little bit in my work. I use it after thinking if it is required in a scene. If it suits and others like it, I retain it.”

Brijendra Kala has acted in both big budget and low budget movies. Sharing the difference he experienced in both, he said, “It’s just that you are the star in low budget film. And someone else is the star in big budget. That’s the feel you get. In low budget, you need to tell an actor how the big guys do it. One should feel it’s big budget despite being low budget. One should make it look as if a good amount of money has been spent on it.”

He added, “In big budget films, things get done very easily. You can heave a sigh of relief. In such films, you only need to be concerned about how much are you able to do well.”

Brijendra Kala started his filmi career as a writer. He explained the reason behind this through a humorous example. “Main us waqt aaya jab hero sundar hota tha, heroine sundar hoti thi, villain sundar hota tha, comedian sundar hota tha aur sundar bhi sundar hota tha. So, what do you do in such situation? When you look at yourself in the mirror, you feel either you should become an assistant director or a writer,” he said.

He shared that he was into writing since his early days. “I used to write plays and also (content) for Aakashwani. I consider Hari Shankar Parsai as my Guru. I used to try and write on the same lines. I then wrote for Tigmanshu (Dhulia) and Balaji (Telefilms). But later when I started getting more work in acting, my writing automatically lessened. I am not writing anything right now. But the scenes I do as an actor, I ensure that I contribute as a writer as much as I can to make the scene better,” he said.

Apart from giving perfect shots, Brijendra Kala also ensures that the mood on the sets is easy going. “I am always naughty on the sets,” he said. “I make sure that the atmosphere on the sets is very entertaining. I ensure that nobody is hesitant about anything with anyone. If there is any popular actor on the set, I make myself so comfortable with him that when I perform with him, there is no hesitation. If you gel well with your co-stars and director, your work becomes easy.”

Coming to his forthcoming projects, he has three movies with Maddock Films, along with Jeevan Bheema Yojana, Johnny Jumper and he will soon start shooting the season 2 of Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen.

Not many people would know that, apart from Saurabh Shukla and Sanjay Mishra, Brijendra Kala is the only actor who has been a part of both Jolly LLB movies, although in different roles. When asked whether he would be seen in Jolly LLB 3 as well, he said, “I don’t know. I haven’t got a call yet. Maybe if I get a call, I will do.”